Shadow of the Abyss

The Ball had stretched deep into the night, its festivities spanning for hours as platters of food and goblets of wine were passed around. The revelers, both men and women, were all in a state of intoxication, their senses flitting between the realm of reality and the ethereal mist of the night.

It had been quite the sight, leaving Syris to giggle. "Is this what gods perceive mortals to be?"

Altair raised a brow. She had a point. The stronger his perception had become, the more he could see how mortals could be considered mindless drunks before their eyes. Perhaps it had been his arrogance, yet the more he watched them lost in the wine, the more he found himself relating to Syris's words.

He grinned, "Well said. Is this also going into your Bible?"

"I'll have to spews-it-up, but perhaps," Syris said, her lips perking into a lovely smile. "Perhaps I'll compare the perception of a god to the relation between a child and a parent."

'You seemed to be having quite the time."

"I am." Syris nodded. "You should see the children Nia is training: Cute little things. Every morning, I have them sing praises towards the Vale. It's not the man that can change a kingdom but the 'force' it carries. Religion across the ages always seem to span longer than the life span of any kingdom."

It was strange hearing Syris speak so… theologically. Yet there was an aggressiveness to her words that made him wary. Religion in any form was a dangerous tool. It segregated ideals.

Still, he wasn't against the idea. Especially since the one they'd be worshiping would be him. He merely had to trust that Syris understood the power religion had on the minds of the men and women now under her control.

He grinned, pulling himself and Syris to their feet before making a few rounds to make a few more connections between the neighboring kingdoms and corporations from Genesis. He grinned when he came across the various Saints from the Twelve Zodiacs.

"Lady Scythia Talfor, I believe it's been eight years," Altair said before the Transcendent of Scorpio.

Scythia looked surprised. " You remembered."

'How could I forget?" Altair said, lifting the Ring of Draupnir. "I'm still using this baby. It's treated me well these past years."

Scythia found a smile, studying the man who was once a boy with amazement. She could hardly believe the little brat that was twelve when they met would have grown so much. She was a bit regretful she couldn't snatch him up when she had the chance.

"Actually…" Altair began. "I wanted to invite your organization to Earth formally. You've treated me well years back. It's time I return that favor, don't you think?"

"It was only a ring and a few resources," Scythia said, regretting the words as they came.

"Perhaps, but I like you. I like your spirit. Your strong, and my Sword Maid here claims you'd make a most wonderful fiend in the future."

"A fiend?" Scythia laughed, glancing at Tasha. "Is that a compliment? Well, I'll take it. Never been called a fiend before."

Tasha lips perked up. "Where I'm from is quite the compliment."

"And where is that?" Scythia asked.

"Spoilers," Tasha mused with a sneaky smile. She winked, causing Scythia to flush.

'Oh my… does she prefer the company of women?' Altair wondered. He chuckled soon after gesturing to Syris. "This is my Saintess."

"I heard. Does that mean you've found a God to worship?"

Syris answered for him. "As future Gods, it's unbecoming to worship anyone ourselves."

"You make it sound so simple," Sythia said dryly.

"But it is," Syris said, taking a lithe step forward. Her silvery blue eyes dazzled like the brightest light. His Highness and I are both part of a God Race. As for what grade, we'll keep that a secret. But it's only a matter of when we become gods."

Scythia wasn't surprised, although she still didn't understand why Altair needed them. Inviting an organization to his monopoly was inviting trouble. She was merely one of many faces of Scorpio.

"Will you accept?" Altair asked.

"Can I think about it?"

"No," The Emperor said in his regal voice. "You are Scorpio's representative. You are their voice. I wouldn't have sent an invite if they hadn't sent someone without a backbone."

Scythia froze, recognizing her mistake. She bowed, knowing the invitation would only come once. "We'd be happy to accept the invitation to bring our cooperation to Earth's surface."

Altair allowed her to raise her head, offering her a drink before making idle conversation before he left for another of the Twelve Zodiacs. He didn't offer them a deal like he did Scythia but felt the rest needed to salivate to help sweeten the pot.

Sauntering through the party, Altair finally stopped before Amilia and Fat Mike, who sat awkwardly between Megera and Zagreus. He wanted to laugh but stifled it as best he could.

"I hope your trip to the surface was a pleasant one. When Thanatos told me you were coming, I could hardly believe it," he said, his voice cracking.

Zagreus frowned. "So you knew?"

"An hour before the party. You were preoccupied, so I didn't bother reaching out," Altair said.

"A pleasure, Lord Blackwood," Megaera said, rising to formally greet him, but Altair stayed her movement with a palm.

"There is no need to rise. However, I thought your first stop would have been to see Medusa. I heard you two were besties."

Megaera blushed, glaring at Thanatos as he made his rounds to accompany various important guests. He smiled and waved at her before proceeding on his way.

"Damn that lord of death. I don't like that word… my Lord."

"What bestie?"

Megaera flush only seemed to deepen. "Yes. that one. Medusa and I are merely good friends."

"Oh my god, you're cute," Syris said, a little taken aback. She could feel her battle-hardened persona bleeding out from within her skin-tight dress. It had been undeniable how many people she'd kill, yet even she had such a side to her.

"I wanna spar against you one day."

Megaera rose, a head taller than Syris, nearing Altair's height. "You'd lose."

"We'll see," Syris said confidently.

"I—" Megaera frowned, her eyes swaying to the perceived danger around her.

Altair seemed to sense it too, the 'knowing' of his Spirit Domain filtering through his subconscious, alerting him of some unseen danger. He glanced around, his gaze narrowing on a man staring at him. The moment their eyes met, the stranger turned, but by then, it was too late.

Raven approached, her eyes a deep shade of red as she activated the Eyes of Sacrilege.

"It seems it's already taken care of," Altair mused, turning back to Megaera. That's quite the sharp sense you have there. How'd you do that?"

"There is more to a domain than perceiving your surroundings in 360 degrees. When you create your 'World,' I'm sure you'll understand."

"The more I learn, the less I feel like I know." He shook his head, bellowing a sigh. "Well, I hope you enjoy the ball. I've some business with the Twelve Olympians."

****

The first god Altair had approached had been Aphrodite, conversing with Athena and Hera. The three were as lovely as he suspected them to be, encompassing the very definition of beauty. They didn't seem real, although neither did Syris Raina or Tasha. And yet…

"Altair," said Athena, quickly noticing his arrival. "Mother, this is the young man I was just speaking about."

"The boy king," Hera said cooly.

Altair looked her dead in the eye, sliding his gaze away, without further recognition, to Aphrodite, who, like her brother, appeared laid back, beaming as she opened her palm, conjuring an envelope.

"The price," She said in a lovely voice. Smoothing a strand of her red hair from her face.

Startled, to say the least, Altair accepted it and simply pocketed it without looking it over. "Your Acholyte will be released."

"Please torture her a bit. Play with her holes for me so that she might understand her mistake." Aphrodite grinned when she saw Altair's disturbed expression. "You know she has a kink for that sort of thing, right? No need to feel guilty. I'm sure that little slut is imagining many ways in which you can tease her."

Altair's jaw snapped opened, finding for the first time in a while he was at a loss for words.

"I see…" he said, pushing down the wild thoughts seeking to distort his mind. I'll keep that in mind." Then Altair remembered, "And what of you, Athena? Do you want your disciple?"

"Me? Well... I'd have assumed that working for you would afford me the luxury of having my acolyte spared," she said. Was I wrong?"

She had a point, however…

"Your words do carry some weight. I'll release Ophelia, but her freedom is no longer her own. She'll be mine from now on," Altair said, his voice hard, leaving no room to negotiate.

Athena expectantly agreed with a slight half-bow. "Then I thank you for your generosity, my Lord."

"Then I hope you two ladies are having a wonderful time?"

"Goodness no," Aphrodite said, shaking her head. "What type of ball doesn't have an orgy? Come on, it's called a 'Ball' for a reason."

"I legitimately have no words," Altair said, embarrassed. Even Syris was laughing at him, holding her stomach.

"What about me," Hera snapped.

Altair did not seem to recognize her existence as he bid farewell to the two Gods, leaving Hera to fume where she stood.

"I warned you, Mother. Your arrogance will be your undoing."